On the road toward an automated truck, the majority of trucks ordered today are already outfitted with automated manual transmissions that offer adaptive cruise control to maintain a safe following distance. We have collision mitigation systems that can apply the brakes to help prevent or minimize the severity of an accident. The next piece of the autonomous truck puzzle is steering systems. Like all automated systems, it begins with baby steps.

ZF recently put me behind the wheel of ReAX, its hydraulic electric steering system, in which an electronic motor provides the required assist to the hydraulic steering system.

Find out where lane-keeping steering assist systems will start and where they’re heading on this episode of On the Road.